Best Schools for Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering graduates earn a median of $108,642 within four years of graduating, ranking #3 out of 283 tracked majors — 74% above the median across all fields. There are 22 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,794 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Tulsa graduates earn $145,353 while Texas A&M University-Kingsville graduates earn $77,469 — a $67,884 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Petroleum Engineering graduates see an average -7% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$108,642

Avg. 2yr Earnings

of 283 Majors

1,794

Graduates

Public vs Private: Petroleum Engineering

Public (20 schools)

$107,033

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (2 schools)

$122,324

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $15,291 more in early earnings on average for Petroleum Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Petroleum Engineering by State

Top Petroleum Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK · Private

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Public

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

Montana Technological University

Butte, MT · Public

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA · Public

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA · Public

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO · Public

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND · Public

Marietta College

Marietta, OH · Private

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM · Public

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Kingsville, TX · Public

$77,469

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

1yr: $72,626 (25)

Acceptance: 92.3%

#20

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX · Public

$87,532

2yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK · Public

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Erie, PA · Public

Majors with Similar Earnings

Mathematics and Computer Science $84,401 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering $81,473 Operations Research $73,589 Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering $72,650 Mining and Mineral Engineering $72,531 Construction Engineering $71,301

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Petroleum Engineering?

University of Tulsa ranks #1 for Petroleum Engineering with median graduate earnings of $145,353 within four years of graduating. There are 22 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Petroleum Engineering graduates earn?

Petroleum Engineering graduates earn an average of $108,642 within four years of graduating. This is 74% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $77,469 to $145,353 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Petroleum Engineering program?

The average acceptance rate across Petroleum Engineering programs is 74.3%. The most selective program is at The University of Texas at Austin with a 29.1% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Petroleum Engineering?

Private Petroleum Engineering programs average $122,324 in early earnings vs $107,033 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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